During the most serious attack he left her with multiple bruises and put his hands around her neck, almost causing her to pass out.

Tigwell, a former infantryman who completed two tours of Afghanistan, was jailed for eight months after admitting two common assaults, one charge of causing actual bodily harm, and criminal damage to a phone.

Prosecutor Rachel Drake said Tigwell and the victim had been in a relationship for several months before moving in together.

The first incident happened soon after they started living together when Tigwell flew into a rage because he could not open a drawer and punched the woman in the face.

The second incident happened when the woman had been drinking with a friend. She returned home and a jealous Tigwell started to shout and slap her. He also broke the victim’s mobile phone.

A few weeks later the pair had been drinking in Exmouth until the early hours. Police told them to go home. The woman used a ladder to climb into their flat but found Tigwell already inside.

He grabbed her by the hair, slapped her in the face and straddled her on the ground, putting his hands around her throat.

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He said Tigwell had problems with binge drinking but was otherwise a responsible person who wanted to work and help others.

“The two should not have been in the same space at the time and the relationship was over,” he said.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC said: “This was not one but three separate incidents when in a temper and drink you were violent to her and that’s totally unacceptable.

“I have heard about your army service and have that well in mind and your record in recent years has slowed down considerably. But domestic violence such as this is totally unacceptable as you now understand.”